Sports

USC's stunning upset over No. 2 Ohio State saves Lincoln Riley from Halloween disaster

Nairavoice · Nov 1, 2026 · 2 min read

USC’s stunning upset over No. 2 Ohio State saves Lincoln Riley from Halloween disaster originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Jayden Maiava passed for 222 yards and a touchdown while Trent Mosley racked up 145 all-purpose yards as Southern California stunned No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 on Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Ohio State started true freshman quarterback Luke Fahey in place of the injured Julian Sayin, but the Trojans (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten) dictated terms from the opening snap.

Just 39 seconds into the game, Mosley took a short screen from Maiava and raced untouched down the sideline for a 69-yard touchdown.

Late in the first quarter, Mosley set up USC’s second score with a 44-yard punt return to the Ohio State 46, helped by a Buckeyes personal foul. Two plays after hauling in a 14-yard reception, Mosley watched Waymond Jordan scamper into the end zone from 9 yards out to extend the lead to 14-3.

USC pushed its advantage to 17-6 on Ryon Sayeri’s career-long-tying 54-yard field goal. Ohio State (6-2, 4-1) was repeatedly forced to settle for field goals in the red zone, as Connor Hawkins converted kicks of 39, 34, and 23 yards—the last coming after the Buckeyes stalled with a first-and-goal at the USC 1-yard line—to send the Trojans into halftime leading 20-9.

Maiava finished 15-of-22 passing, while Mosley caught five passes for 101 yards.

MORE: Week 10 college football first look

USC broke the game open midway through the third quarter. After Ohio State’s West fumbled and Floyd Boucard recovered at the Buckeyes’ 32-yard line, Maiava connected with Mark Bowman on a 70-yard catch-and-run that set up King Miller’s 1-yard touchdown plunge to make it 27-9.

Fahey completed 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown.

Jeremiah Smith recorded 10 catches for 83 yards, capping his day with a 1-yard touchdown grab with 2:12 remaining. The score marked Smith’s 40th career Big Ten receiving touchdown, tying ex-Michigan’s Braylon Edwards for the most in conference history.

MORE: Luke Fahey stats today

Following a failed two-point conversion that kept it 27-18, USC’s Tanook Hines scooped up the Buckeyes’ onside kick and returned it 24 yards to the Ohio State 21. Caden Chittenden sealed the victory with a 32-yard field goal with 1:46 left.